Football: Hawks make solid start

Augusta-Margaret River kicked off a season of high expectations on the right note with a comfortable 44-point victory over South Bunbury in their SWFL opening round clash at Kelly Park on Sunday.

But the Hawks’ 13.13 (91) to 7.7 (49) win was soured by the horrible luck of forward Grant Garstone, who was carried off early in the second term with what officials fear is his fourth serious knee injury.

The Tigers were also down to 21 men early after Connor McCamish hobbled off with an ankle problem just before quarter time and was unable to return.

The young South Bunbury lineup stuck to its task throughout the match, but always looked to be up against it.

AMR won the game in the first half when it held the Tigers to a three-point margin at quarter-time in the face of a strong breeze, before adding five unanswered majors in the second to lead by 29 at the main break.

The Hawks then won the third quarter as their size, strength and experience started to take its toll on South, despite the best efforts of big man Chris Andrew, Braden Piggott and Adam Harper.

Matthew Wilkinson also battled hard all day, while Guy Piggott was lively up forward with three goals, but Hawk Richard Devitt ensured the Tigers were never able to string consecutive goals together.

Dan Atkinson was terrific in the ruck and also got forward to kick three goals, while Ben Gerrans won the ball seemingly at will and also got forward to kick two.

Cody Enders did his best work in and under to fire the ball out for Ben Noakes and Jeremy Humm.

Coach Tim Noakes took full advantage, looking dangerous whenever he went near the ball and finishing with four goals.

Score Card

Aug-Marg River 3.1 8.3 10.8 13.13 91 def South Bunbury 3.4 3.4 5.6 7.7 49

GOALS:

AUGUSTA-MARGARET RIVER – T. Noakes 4, D. Atkinson 3, J. Simmonds, B. Gerrans 2, N. Derickx, B. Noakes.

SOUTH BUNBURY – G. Piggott 3, J. Terry, C. Andrew, T. Lee, N. Fielding.

BEST:

AUGUSTA-MARGARET RIVER – D. Atkinson, B. Gerrans, B. Noakes, C. Enders, R. Devitt, J. Humm.

SOUTH BUNBURY – C. Andrew, B. Piggott, G. Piggott, M. Wilkinson, A. Harper.